Bed construction



1966 J. SCHLACKMAN ETAL 3,230,553

BED CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1963 .Mun

m M 21 mm w m m r M MM w fi m w. 4 m. D5 6 8/. M 0 R m T a fi W %N M ZJan. 25, 1966 J. SCHLACKMAN ET AL 3,230,553

BED CONSTRUCTION Filed June 17, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 31 29 ii 27 e: H I25 5/ |II /9 l l 9 I I) LAJ -20 J6 15 lia INVENTORS Joseph Sc/zZackmamEoZand 14 Benodl' United States Patent 3,230,553 BED CONSTRUCTION JosephSchlackman, Jamaica, N.Y., and Roland A. Benoit, Dayville, C0nn.,assignors to Royalmetal Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation ofIllinois Filed June 17, 1963, Ser. No. 297,730 6 Claims. (Cl. -64) Thisis a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 825,846, filed July8, 1959, now abandoned.

This invention relates to adjustable beds, such as hospital-type bedsand the like, and more particularly to adjustable beds whereinmechanical means are provided for changing or adjusting the height ofthe bed frame.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved adjustablebed construction wherein either the head portion or the foot portion, orelse both, of the bed frame may be easily and quickly adjusted or raisedand lowered to effect any desired positioning or head-to-foot tilting ofthe bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustablebed construction as above set forth, wherein simplified extensiblemounting devices or stanchions are provided to support the bed frame onelongate, floor-engaging supports, thereby appreciably reducing thecomplexity of the adjustment means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable bedconstruction as characterized, wherein relatively few parts andcomponents are utilized, and wherein a desirable simplicity ofconstruction is achieved in effecting the raising and lowering and alsotilting adjustment of the bed frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedadjustable bed construction as above defined, wherein the operation ofraising and lowering or tilting the bed frame may be easily and quicklycarried out, without requiring the exercise of any considerable force.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustablebed construction in accordance with the foregoing, wherein greatstability and strength is had in supporting the bed frame in its variouspositions despite the simplicity of the structure and the relatively fewcomponents required.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedadjustable bed construction having the above advantages, and which isnevertheless sturdy and reliable in its operation at all times, andeconomical to fabricate and produce.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an adjustable bedconstruction wherein a single manually operable member is utilized toeffect the raising and lowering of either the head portion or the footportion of the bed frame to provide the desired tilt, or of both thesaid portions to cause purely translational movement of the frame.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference are used to designate like components throughout the severalviews, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary inside end view of the foot portion of theadjustable bed construction as provided by the invention, a portion ofthis view beingin vertical section to reveal the interiorly locateddrive means, and the remainder of the view being in elevation.

3,230,553 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 ice FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional viewtaken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a clutch mechanismand actuating means therefor, provided between the drive means at thehead and foot portions of the bed.

FIG. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, ofthe head portion of the bed construction.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view like FIGURE 2, but showing amodification of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the modification,parts being broken away; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of FIGURE 5, but showing theclutch in the engaged position.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the bed frame of the adjustable bedconstruction is indicated by the numeral 10, said frame including a footboard or panel 12 and also a head board 14. The bed frame 10 may furthercomprise side rails, such as the rail indicated at 13, of any suitableor usual construction.

The adjustable bed construction further comprises a pair offloor-engaging support means 15, one of said pair (see FIG. 4) beingdisposed at the head portion of the bed frame and the other (illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2) beingv located at the foot portion of the bed frame.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pair ofextensible mounting devices, one of which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2 and the other in FIG. 4, these being designated generally by thenumeral 17, for mounting the head and foot portions of the bed frame 10on the support means 15 respectively, whereby the bed frame is supportedabove and in spaced relation to the floor surface.

The floor-engaging support means are shown as being of elongateconstruction, in accordance with the invention, being constituted ofrigid bars 16 having widely spaced feet 16a for contacting the floorsurface.

By the present invention, the extensible mounting de vices 17 areconstituted as extensible stanchions which are rigidly secured to thecenter portions of the floorengaging support means 15 as seen in FIG. 1.Thus, by such construction the bars 16 may be thought of as eachconstituted of a pair of oppositely extended horizontal arms whichproject in opposite directions from the extensible mounting stanchion17.

By the present invention, the stanchions 17 are of hollow constructionand comprise inner and outer hollow telescoping members 19 and 20,respectively, the outer member 20 being rigidly secured to the footboard 12 whereas the inner telescoping member 19 is rigidly atfixed tothe base or floor-engaging support means 15.

It will be understood that at the head of the bed frame the headboard iscorrespondingly rigidly secured to the outer telescoping member 20 whichreceives an inner telescoping member 19 secured to the floor-engagingsupport means 15.

It will be seen from an inspection of FIGS. 1 and 2 that theextensible-stanchions 17 are appreciably wider than they are thick, andthat the width of the stanchions extends along the length of thefloor-engaging support means or supporting base 15, thereby to providean extremely rugged construction and one which provides great stabilityto the bed frame.

By the present invention, within each of the hollow extensiblestanchions 17 there is provided a mechanical drive means designatedgenerally by the numeral 23, for effecting extension and retraction ofthe stanchions, thereby to raise and lower and also tilt the bed frame.Each of the said mechanical drive means comprises an elevating drivescrew 25 which is disposed above the floor-engaging support means andwhich extends vertically within the stanchion 17, and further comprisesan elevating nut 27 which is fixed to the inner telescoping member 19adjacent its upper end. Such elevating nut 27 is threadedly engaged withthe drive screw 25. At its upper end, the drive screw 25 has a bearingcollar 29 rigidly affixed thereto, and the upper extremity of the drivescrew rigidly mounts a bevel or mitre gear 31, as shown. Interposedbetween the collar 29 and the gear 31 is a bearing block 33, the saidblock being rigidly secured to the outer telescoping member whereby thedrive screw has no relative vertical movement with respect to the outermember but instead may turn as permitted by the bearing means.

As the elevating nut 27 is rigidly secured to the inner telescopingmember 19, turning of the drive screw 25 will effect either an extensionor retraction of the stan chion 17 thereby resulting in the bed frame 10being either raised or lowered.

For the purpose of turning the drive screw 25 there is provided asimple, manually operable means comprising a foldable hand crank 35carried by a shaft 36, the latter having a bearing in the foot board 12of the bed frame and mounting a bevel or mitre gear 38 which meshes withthe gear 31 on the screw.

The inner telescoping member 19 has vertically extending slots or cuts40 in its opposite sides to clear the shaft 36 and mitre gear 38 andalso to clear the bearing block 33. By such construction, turning of thecrank 35 will effect a turning of the drive screw 25, thereby to extendand retract the stanchion 17 so as to raise and lower the foot of thebed.

The mechanical drive means as thus far described is duplicated, as seenin FIG. 4, at the head portion of the bed frame 10,. with the exceptionthat the hand crank 35 is omitted. Further, in accordance with theinvention, a coupling means is provided between the drive means 23 atthe head portion of the bed frame and that illustrated in the drawingsas provided at the foot portion of the frame, and in each instance thesaid coupling means comprises a sprocket wheel 42 mounted on the shaft36, and a chain 44 which passes over the sprocket wheel 42 and dependstherefrom. In each instance the chain 44 also passes over a sprocketwheel 46 which 'is provided on a jack shaft 48 carried in an adjustablebearing bracket 49 which is adjustably mounted on the outer telescopingmember 20, one such member 20 being at the foot portion and another suchmember 20 at the head portion of the bed frame. The shaft 48 and bracket49 are disposed vertically below the shaft 36 and sprocket 42, as willbe readily understood, in each instance.

The coupling means between the head and foot drive mechanisms furtherincludes an elongate drive shaft 52 which extends under the bed frame10, from the head to the foot portion thereof, said drive shaft beingcoupled to the shafts 48 at the head of the bed frame by means of asuitable coupling fitting.

Further, in accordance with the invention, the coupling of the driveshaft 52 to the jack shaft 48 at the foot of the bed is made through amechanical clutch device 54 having a part 55 splined to the drive shaft48 and which is movable to clutch the end of the shaft 52. The clutchpart 55 has a grooved collar receiving a shifting fork or rod 58 whichis pivotally mounted at 60 on the adjustable bearing bracket 49. Theclutch shifting rod 58 is integral with a bell crank lever 62. The freeend of the lever 62 is pivotally connected with the lower end of aclutch actuating arm 64. Such actuating arm 64 has a handle 65 fixed onits upper end. When the actuating arm 64 is raised, the bell crank lever62 is rocked in a clockwise direction whereby the shifting fork 58 movessimilarly to move the movable .clutch part 55 in a direction todisengage it and the jack shaft 52 from the drive shaft 48 in a mannerreadily understood.

The clutch operating arm'64 extends through a slot 67 in a verticalhousing or guard 69 which is secured to the foot board 12 and whichencloses the sprockets 42 and 46 and also the chain 44, together withthe associated hearing fittings. As seen in FIG. 2, adjacent thesprocket 42 a bearing and cap fitting 70 is provided, carried by theouter telescoping member 20, said fitting also being enclosed by thehousing 69.

By such construction, as provided by the invention, it is possible toraise either the head portion or the foot portion of the bed frame whenthe respective clutch mechanism 54 only is engaged, or both at the sametime when both clutch mechanisms 54 are engaged. Also, by disengagingthe clutch mechanism, the foot portion of the bed may be either raisedor lowered independently of the head portion. Thus, with thisorganization, by first adjusting the head portion to the desired level,it is possible, through independent adjustment of the foot portion tosecure any inclination of the bed frame which may be desired, eitherwith the head portion lower or higher than the foot portion.

Further, in accordance with the invention, novel springoperatedcounterbalance means are provided within the hollow stanchions 17, tocounterbalance the weight of the bed frame 10 and reduce the operatingload on the drive screw 25 and drive nut 27, while at the same timemaking it easier for the person to lower or raise the bed when turningthe hand crank 35. This counterbalance means comprises a pair of helicalcompression springs 75 and 76 (FIG. 1), said springs being carried ontwo elongate, telescopic means, each comprising an upright rod 78 and atube 79 in which rod 78 is slidable. The upper ends of the tubes 79 arefixed to upper portions of the head or foot portions of the bed frame.The lower extremities of the rods 78 are rigidly attached to thefloor-engaging support means 15, and the lower ends of the springs 75and 76 engage and abut the floor-engaging support means 15, whereas theupper ends of the springs 75 and 76 engage and abut the bed frame 10 atpoints within the hollow stanchions 17. Thus, the compression coilsprings have a tendency to lift the bed frame and counterbalance theweight of the same, thereby making it easier to operate the drive meansand relieving the load on the drive screws 25 andnuts 27.

In the modification of FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, a headboard includes avertical housing or guard 101. A vertical drive screw 102 is mounted inthe guard 101 and engages a nut 103 which is fixed to the movable section 104 of the headboard for raising and lowering the same as in thefirst described species of the invention. The lower end of the drivescrew 102 has a bevel gear 105 fixed thereon which is in mesh with abevel gear 106 which is fixed on the inner end of a horizontal driveshaft 107. The outer end of the drive shaft 107 extends outwardly of theheadboard 100 and is fitted with any suitable actuating means such asthe crank 108 which is fragmentarily illustrated in FIGURE 5. Theforward end of the drive shaft 107 extends forwardly of the guard 101and is provided with a cross slot 109 for receiving a pin 110 whichextends across the adjacent end of a tubular driven shaft 111. Suchadjacent end of the tubular driven shaft 111 is radially outwardlyexpanded in all directions to provide an enlarge cam-engaging boss 112for a purpose to be apparent. At least the adjacent end of the drivenshaft 112 is slidably mounted by any suitable means, not shown, formovement toward and away from the drive shaft 107 whereby to seat andunseat pin 110 in slot 109 for connecting and disconnecting the driveand driven shafts 107 and 111. Thus, with the pin 110 seated in slot109, both shafts will be rotated as a unit and both ends of the bed willbe elevated at the same time. Any suitable expansive spring means 113inside driven shaft 111 bears at one end against any suitable abutmentsuch as the cross rivet or pin 114 to load the driven shaft intooperative engagement with the drive shaft 107. The other end of thespring 113 bears against any suitable abutment such as the solid end ofa driven shaft, not shown,.on which the tubular shaft 111 is slidablymounted in a manner readily understood.

When it is desired to disconnect the driven shaft 111 from the driveshaft 107, the operator uses an actuator arm 115. Such arm 115 isslidable vertically in the guard 101 and has a handle 116 which extendsabove the same. The lower end of the arm 115 has secured thereto abifurcated cam 117 which is formed with beveled furcations 118 and avertical rest surface 119. When the shafts 107 and 111 are connectedtogether, the actuating arm 115 is raised and the parts are in thepositions of FIGURE 7. When it is desired to disconnect the shafts 107and 111, the operator depresses the arm 115 whereby the beveledfurcations 118, which straddle the drive shaft 107, cam the boss 112 andthe tubular driven shaft 111 away from the drive shaft 107 until the pin110 is clear of the slot 109. A slight further movement brings theadjacent portions of the rest surface 115 of the cam against the boss112 and prevents the spring 113 from again connecting the shafts untilsuch time as the operator again elevates the actuator arm 115.

It is understood that except as described hereinabove, the structure ofthe modification of FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 is essentially the same as thefirst described species.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided noveland improved adjustable bed constructions which are characterized bygreat simplicity, relatively few parts, and which are rugged andreliable in operation. Moreover, the various components and assembliesmay be economically fabricated and produced, and operate so as to enablethe bed to be easily and quickly raised and lowered, or tilted asbetween the head and foot portions, with a minimum of effort and forcebeing required.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. An adjustable bed construction comprising a head portion and a footportion, each of said head portion and foot portion including ahorizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widelyspaced feet connected at each end of said support for engaging thefloor, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongated supportintermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device includingcentrally disposed inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchion members,said inner stanchion member being rigidly connected to said elongatedsupport and said outer stanchion member being vertically movablerelative to said inner stanchion member, a head board frame and a footboard frame connected to the outer stanchion member at the respectiveh'ead portion and foot portion of said bed construction, side railsinterconnecting the head board frame with the foot board frame, amechanical drive means associated respectively with each of the mountingdevices of the respective head portion and foot portion for effectingthe telescoping of said cooperatively associated inner and outerstanchion members, vertical coil spring means interposed within therespective extensible devices, said spring means including a coil springvertically disposed on either side of said drive means within therespective extensible device to effect counterbalancing of the weight ofsaid bed head and foot board frames at a central position thereof,mounting means for said springs comprising telescoping rod means axiallyinwardly of said springs, means for connecting the drive means of therespective foot portion and head portion to effect either simultaneouslyoperation of the respective drive means to raise and lower the siderails or for disconnecting the drive means from each other to effectindependent operation of the respective drive means for tilting saidside rails, said latter means including a coupling shaft coupled at oneend to the driving device in said head portion and releasably coupled atthe other end to the drive means of said foot portion and a clutch meansfor engaging and disengaging the releasably coupled end of said shaft tothe drive means of said foot portion.

2. An adjustable bed construction comprising a head portion and a footportion, each of said head portion and foot portion including ahorizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widelyspaced feet connected at each end of said support for engaging thefloor, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongated supportintermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device includingcentrally disposed inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchion members,said inner stanchion member being rigidly connected to said elongatedsupport and said outer stanchion member being vertically movablerelative to said inner stanchion member, a head board frame and a footboard frame connected to the outer stanchion member at the respectivehead portion and foot portion of said bed construction, side railsinterconnecting the head board frame with the foot board frame, amechanical drive means associated respectively with each of the mountingdevices of the respective head portion and foot portion for effectingthe telescoping of said cooperatively associated inner and outerstanchion members, spring means inter-posed within the respectiveextensible devices, said spring means including a coil spring disposedon either side of said drive means within the respective extensibledevice to elfect counterbalancing of the weight of said bed head andfoot board frames at,a central position thereof, and means forconnecting the drive means of the respective foot portion and headportion to effect either simultaneously operation of the respectivedrive means to raise and lower the side rails or for disconnecting thedrive means from each other to effect independent operation of therespective drive means for tilting said side rails, said latter meansincluding a coupling shaft coupled at one end to the driving device insaid head portion and releasably coupled at the other end to the drivemeans of said foot portion, a clutch means for engaging and disengagingthe releasably coupled end of said shaft to the drive means of said footportion, said clutch including a clutch part having a grooved collarmovable toward and away from said shaft, said clutch part and couplingshaft having cooperating means for engaging and disengaging saidcoupling shaft in driving relationship with said clutch part, and meansfor effecting movement of said clutch part to effect engagement anddisengagment thereof with said coupling shaft, said means including aU-shaped shifting fork having one leg pivotally mounted and having itsbight portion disposed in the grooved collar of said clutch part, avertically elongated clutch actuating arm carried by the outerextensible stanchion at said foot portion whereby said actuating arm isrendered readily accessible without stooping, and a link interconnectingsaid actuating arm to said clutch fork for transmitting the verticaldisplacement of said arm to effect horizontal movement of said clutchpart for effecting either the coupling or uncoupling of the drive meansat the foot portion to the drive means at said head portion.

3. An adjustable bed construction comprising a head portion and a footportion, each of said head portion and foot portion including ahorizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widelyspaced feet for engaging the floor connected at each end of saidsupport, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongatedsupport intermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device includingan inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchion member, said innerstanchion member being rigidly connected to said elongated support andsaid outer stanchion member being vertically movable relative to saidinner stanchion member, a head board frame and a foot board frameconnected to the outer stanchion member of the respective head portionand foot portion of said bed construction, side rails interconnectingthe head board frame with the foot board frame, a mechanical drive meansassociated respectively within each mounting device of the respectivehead portion and foot portion, said drive means each including anelevating nut secured to the inner stanchion member, a drive screwthreaded to said nut, a bearing block connecting said screw to theadjacent outer stanchion member, a beveled gear connected to the upperend of said screw, a horizontally disposed drive shaft rotatablyjournaled between the walls of said outer stanchion member, a mitre gearfixed to said shaft and disposed in meshing relationship with said bevelgear, a handle means connected to the drive shaft journaled in themounting device of the foot portion whereby rotation of said handleeffects rotation of the screw in said mounting device of said footportion, means for connecting the drive means of the respective footportion and head portion to effect either simultaneously operation ofthe respective drive means to raise and lower the side rails or fordisconnecting the drive means from each other to effect independentoperation of the respective drive means for tilting said side rails,said connecting means including a sprocket journaled to the drive shaftsof the respective drive means, a jack shaft vertically spaced from therespective horizontal drive shaft, said jack shaft being journaled toits respective outer stanchion member, a cooperating driven sprocketmounted to the respective jack shafts, a chain drive connecting therespective driving sprocket into driving relationship with itsrespective driven sprocket, an elongated coupling shaft coupled at oneend to the jack shaft of the head portion and releasably coupled at itsother end to the jack shaft of said foot portion; a manually operativeclutch means interposed between said coupling shaft and jack shaft ofsaid foot portion, said clutch means including clutch part splined tosaid foot portion jack shaft for movement toward and away from saidcoupling shaft, said clutch part having a grooved collar, said clutchpart and coupling shaft having cooperating means for engaging anddisengaging said coupling shaft in driving relationship with said clutchpart, and means for effecting movement of said clutch part to effectengagement and disengagement of said coupling shaft, said meansincluding a U-shaped shifting fork having one leg pivotally mounted andhaving its bight portion disposed in the grooved collar of said clutchpart, a vertically elongated clutch arm carried by the outer extensiblestanchion member of said foot portion whereby it is rendered readilyaccessible without stooping, and a link interconnecting said actuatingarm to the other leg of said clutch fork for transmitting the verticaldisplacement of said arm to effect horizontal movement of said clutchpart for effecting either the coupling or uncoupling of the drive meansof the foot portion to the drive means of the head portion, andcounterbalancing springs disposed in the respective extensible mountingdevice, said springs including a pair of helical compression springs,said coil springs being disposed on opposite sides of the mechanicaldrive means of the respective stanchions.

4. An adjustable bed construction according to claim 1, wherein saidclutch means comprises a horizontally slidable tubular end portion ofsaid coupling shaft, an enlarged boss formed on said tubular endportion, said drive shaft having an adjacent end formed with atransverse slot thereacross, said tubular end of said coupling shaftbeing adapted to receive said drive shaft therein and including a crosspin seatable in said slot to connect said shafts for rotation together,a bifurcated ca-m vertically slidable in said foot portion in straddlingrelation to said drive shaft, said cam having furcations formed with camsurfaces adapted to engage said enlarged boss upon movement of said camin one direction and thereafter move said tubular coupling shaft portionin a direction away from said drive shaft whereby to unseat said pinfrom said slot and disconnect said shafts, and said cam including a restportion adapted to receive a portion of said boss thereon to maintainsaid shafts disconnected.

5. An adjustable bed construction, comprising a head portion and a footportion, each of said head portion and foot portion including ahorizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widelyspaced feet connected at each end of said support for engaging thefloor, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongated supportintermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device includingcentrally disposed inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchionmember-s, said inner stanchion member being rigidly connected to saidelongated support and said outer stanchion member being verticallymovable relative to said inner stanchion member, a head board frame anda foot board frame connected to the outer stanchion member at therespective head portion and foot portion of said bed construction, siderails interconnecting the head board frame with the foot board frame, amechanical drive means associated respectively with each of the mountingdevices of the respective head portion and foot portion for effectingthe telescoping of said cooperatively associated inner and outerstanchion members, spring means interposed within the respectiveextensible devices, said spring means being vertically disposed withinthe respective extensible device to effect counterbalancing of theweight of said bed head and foot board frames at a central positionthereof, mounting means for said springs comprising telescoping rodmeans axially inwardly of said springs, means for connecting the drivemeans of the respective foot portion and head portion to effect eithersimultaneously operation of the respective drive means to raise andlower the side rails or for disconnecting the drive means from eachother to effect independent operation of the respective drive means fortilting said side rails, said latter means including a coupling shaftcoupled at one end to the driving device in said head portion andreleasably coupled at the other end to the drive means of said footportion, and a means for engaging and disengaging the releasably coupledend of said shaft to the drive means of said foot portion.

6. An adjustable bed construction comprising a head portion and a footportion, each of said head portion and foot portion including ahorizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widelyspaced feet connected at each end of said support for engaging thefloor, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongated supportintermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device including acentrally disposed inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchion members,one of said stanchion members being rigidly connected to said elongatedsupport and the other stanchion member being vertically movable relativeto said one stanchion member, a head board frame and a foot board frameconnected to the movable stanchion member at the respective head portionand foot portion of said bed construction, side rails interconnectingthe head board frame and foot board frame, a mechanical drive meansassociated respectively with each of the mounting devices of therespective head portion and foot portion for effecting the telescopingof said cooperatively associated inner and outer stanchion members,vertical spring means interposed between the respective extensibledevices, said spring means being vertically disposed on either side ofsaid drive means within the respective extensible devices to effectcounterbalancing of the weight of said bed head and foot board frames ata central position thereof, mounting means for said springs, connectingmeans for connecting the drive means of the respective foot portion andhead portion to effect either simultaneous operation of the respectivedrive means to raise and lower the side rails or for disconnecting thedrive means from each other to effect independent operation of one ofsaid respective drive means for tilting said side rails, said lattermeans including a coupling shaft coupled at one end to the drivingdevice in said head portion and releasably coupled at the other end tothe drive means of said foot portion, and means for engaging anddisengaging the releasable coupled end of said shaft to the drive meansof said foot portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hamilton 108147Hillenbrand 586 X Waterman 586 Travis 564 Wallen 563 FRANK B. SHERRY,Primary Examiner.

1. AN ADJUSTABLE BED CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A HEAD PORTION AND A FOOT PORTION, EACH OF SAID HEAD PORTION AND FOOT PORTION INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ELONGATED FLOOR ENGAGING SUPPORT HAVING WIDELY SPACED FEET CONNECTED AT EACH END OF SAID SUPPORT FOR ENGAGING THE FLOOR, AND EXTENSIBLE MOUNTING DEVICE CONNECTED TO EACH ELONGATED SUPPORT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID EXTENSIBLE DEVICE INCLUDING CENTRALLY DISPOSED INNER AND OUTER HOLLOW TELESCOPING STANCHION MEMBERS, SAID INNER STANCHION MEMBER BEING RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID ELONGATED SUPPORT AND SAID OUTER STANCHION MEMBER BEING VERTICALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID INNER STANCHION MEMBER, A HEAD BOARD FRAME AND A FOOT BOARD FRAME CONNECTED TO THE OUTER STANCHION MEMBER AT THE RESPECTIVE HEAD PORTION AND FOOT PORTION OF SAID BED CONSTRUCTION, SIDE RAILS INTERCONNECTING THE HEAD BOARD FRAME WITH THE FOOT BOARD FRAME, A MECHANICAL DRIVE MEANS ASSOCIATED RESPECTIVELY WITH EACH OF THE MOUNTING DEVICES OF THE RESPECTIVE HEAD PORTION AND FOOT PORTION FOR EFFECTING THE TELESCOPING OF SAID COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED INNER AND OUTER STANCHION MEMBERS, VERTICAL COIL SPRING MEANS INTERPOSED WITHIN THE RESPECTIVE EXTENSIBLE DEVICES, SAID SPRING MEANS INCLUDING A COIL SPRING VERTICALLY DISPOSED ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID DRIVE MEANS WITHIN THE RESPECTIVE EXTENSIBLE DEVICE TO EFFECT COUNTERBALANCING OF THE WEIGHT OF SAID BED HEAD AND FOOT BOARD FRAMES AT A CENTRAL POSITION THEREOF, MOUNTING MEANS FOR SAID SPRINGS COMPRISING TELESCOPING ROD MEANS AXIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID SPRINGS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE DRIVE MEANS OF THE RESPECTIVE FOOT PORTION AND HEAD PORTION TO EFFECT EITHER SIMULTANEOUSLY OPERATION OF THE RESPECTIVE DRIVE MEANS TO RAISE AND LOWER THE SIDE RAILS OR FOR DISCONNECTING THE DRIVE MEANS FOR EACH OTHER TO EFFECT INDEPENDENT OPERATION OF THE RESPECTIVE DRIVE MEANS FOR TILTING SAID SIDE RAILS, SAID LATTER MEANS INCLUDING A COUPLING SHAFT COUPLED AT ONE END TO THE DRIVING DEVICE IN SAID HEAD PORTION AND RELEASABY COUPLED AT THE OTHER END TO THE DRIVE MEANS OF SAID FOOT PORTION AN A CLUTCH MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE RELEASABLY COUPLED END OF SAID SHAFT TO THE DRIVE MEANS OF SAID FOOT PORTION. 